thy Hand be upon the Man of thy right Hand whom thou hast made so strong for thy self Keep him as the Apple of thine Eye Hide him under the shadow of thy Wings Let his Days be many and his Reign prosperous and under his shadow let both Church and State long flourish And let them be confounded and driven backward as many as have Evil Will at Sion To furnish out an Office for such daily Devotions 't is but to take your Psalter along with you in your Hand which is full of them But especially let me commend to you that Decad of Psalms which begins with the 54 th and so on which may seem to have been put together on purpose for such an Occasion This would be indeed effectually to transcribe holy David's Copy in this his Exemplary and ardent Devotion which is the second Duty requir'd in the Text to prepare us for the protection of God's Wing There is but one more behind and that is 3. Constant Perseverance in both the former In the two former you have seen Holy David putting himself under the shadow of God's Wings and making good his Refuge there by Acts of Faith and Devotion And being once there no Storm shall beat him off no Discouragement shall drive him away no Delay shall weary him out If God kills him 't is all one hee 'l trust in him still and die in his Arms For here he hath set up his Rest and Donec transierinâ—t he is steddily resolv'd his Refuge is and shall be here till these Calamities are over-past But here we must take heed of a great Mistake There are that hold the Donec in the Text too hard and stiff are too punctual and precise with God in it who will trust in him it may be and ply their Devotions just so long as till the Calamity be past But then on the sudden their Trust grows feeble and their Devotion cold and heartless No sooner deliver'd but like old Israel they forget God at the Sea even at the Red-Sea Use him like Themistocle's Planetrees under which Men run for shelter in Storm but the Shower once over they pluck off the Branches turn their Backs and away Nay but there is in Scripture Language an infinite and an interminable Donec which never expires He knew 〈◊〉 not till she brought forth Nay he never knew her In spight of Helvidius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Greek Church stile her A Virgin before and in and after the Birth of our Lord and for ever Ay that 's the Virgin 's Soul indeed that keeps ever close to her heavenly Spouse Not only runs under his Wings for Shelter when Calamities affright her saying Spread thy Skirt over me and then strays away again as soon as ever the flattering Calm and Sun-shine of Prosperity tempts her abroad As our Lord hath given us an everlasting Donec Lo I am with you saith he till the end of the World Not that he will leave us then but take us yet nigher unto himself and so we shall ever be with the Lord as the Apostle speaks So must we also have One for him of the same Latitude and Extension For ever under the Shadow of his Wings till this single Tyranny as in the old Translation till these Calamities as in the New or as the Hebrew implies till all and every of our Calamities be overpast Both before and in and after Calamities still under the Shadow of God's Wings While they last 't is In the Shadow of thy Wings will I trust and when they are past 't is In the Shadow of thy Wings will I rejoyce that 's all the Difference As the Scenes shift our Devotion must improve and Advance too till our Prayer be heighten'd into Praise as I trust e're long it will be our Hope swallowed in Enjoyment and our Trust sublimated and made to flowre up into Joy and Triumph When the same God that rais'd David from the Cave to the Throne shall translate us also from the Shadow of his Wings into the Light of his Countenance To the Beatifical Vision whereof he of his Mercy bring us who hath so dearly bought it for us Jesus Christ the Righteous To whom with thee O Father and God the Holy Ghost be ascribed of us and all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth Blessing Honour Glory and Power both now and for evermore Amen FINIS A CATALOGUE OF SOME BOOKS Printed for and are to be Sold by Thomas Bassett at the George near St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street A Practical Discourse concerning Christian Conversation purposely Written to Vindicate and Improve the Religious Societies of late Years erected in the Cities of London Glocester c. By Philopatris and Philadelphus Members of the Church of England Now in the Press An Essay concerning Human Understanding with large Additions By Mr. Iohn Lock Newly Reprinted in Folio A Collection of Cases and other Discourses lately Written to the Communion of the Church of England by some Divines of the City of London to which is prefixed a Catalogue of all the Cases and Discourses with the Authors Names together with three Tables containing 1. The Contents of each Discourse 2. The Scriptures Illustrated and Occasionally explained 3. The several Authors cited and examined The English Examiner Or A Spelling Book Containing 1. Rules for Spelling Reading and Pronouncing of our English Tongue by way of Question and Answer 2. Words from One to Six or Seven Syllables both common Names and also proper divided according to the Rules 3. Words alike in Sound but of different Sense and Signification 4. Numeral Letters and Figures the Names of the Books in Scripture the Months and Quarters in the Year English words contracted and the Use of great Letters Lastly is added the Practice of Reading or the way of Teaching to Read by Verses that have Words therein only of one Syllable By Richard Brown late English Writing-Master of Rugby in the County of Warwick but now of the City of Coventry An Enquiry into the Causes of Diseases in general and the Disturbances of the Humours in Man's Body wherein the Nature of the Blood of the Air and of a Pestilential Constitution are briefly considered together with some Observations shewing wherein the Venom of Vipers particularly that of the English Adder doth consist By Sanford Walferstan M. A. Remarks made in Travels through France and Italy with many Public Inscriptions Lately taken by a Person of Quality An Essay of Transmigration in Defence of Pythagorus Or a Discourse of Natural Philosophy By Mr. Bulstrode The Young Clerks Tutor Enlarged Being a most useful Collection of the best Presidents of Recognizances Obligations Conditions Acquittances Bills of Sale Warrants of Attorneys c. As also all the Names of Men and Women in Latin with the day of the Date the several Sums of Money and the addition of several Trades and Employments in their proper Cases as they stand in the Obligations together
shewing thy Self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a pattern of good Works For as S. Ambrose excellently In Episcopo vita formatur omnium the Life of the Prelate is as it were a Form or Mold in which the Conversation of others is Shap'd and Modell'd Or as Isidore Pelusiot conceits it like a Seal well cut which stamps the common Christians under his Care as Wax with the like Impressions And therefore S. Paul who well understood this twice within two Verses of my Text requires it a Qualification in a Bishop that he be blameless 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 One that cannot be accused which yet Innocence it self you know may be nay but a Bishop must be void of Suspicion too as well as Crime Ay that 's the way to set all right indeed For so fair a Copy plac'd in so good a Light teacheth it self and every one that runs by will read it and strive to write after it 2 But Secondly Doctrina by speaking the things that become sound Doctrine For a Bishop must be able both to exhort and to convince the Gainsayers In Doctrine shewing Uncorruptness Gravity Sincerity sound Speech that cannot be condemned that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed c. 3 Censura That must not be forgotten as being chief in the Eyes of the Text. No the Garden of God must be weeded sometimes or like the Sluggard's Vineyard 't will soon be overgrown with Nettles and Thorns Even Christ's Vine must be pruned too or 't will run out and spend it self in fruitless Luxury The Lamps of the Temple will burn faint and dim if they be not trimmed and drest and snuffed now and then And therefore though the Tables of the Law and the Pot of Manna be in the Ark yet 't is not a perfect Embleme of the Church unless the Rod of Aaron be there too and without Iurisdiction and Discipline we shall quickly find the Word and Sacraments will not have so powerful an Influence upon a loose and a debauched World Epiphanius observes That Moses was sent into Egypt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some while after he instituted the Passover and received the Law and consecrated Aaron and his Sons to the Priest-hood but he carried the Rod of God with him in his Hand No bringing up the Israel of God out of Egypt without it And 't is that Rod therefore which S. Paul here puts into Titu's Hand when he bids him Correct what is amiss in the Text and Rebuke evil doers sharply and severely v. 11. and Stop the mouths of such as teach what they ought not v. 13. Nay and Rebuke them with all Authority not suffering his Monitions to be slighted by any Let no man contemn thee Ch. 11. v. 15. Nay if Corrigas will not serve the turn be a Word too low S. Ierome upon the place and after him Cardinal Cajetan have added a Cubit to its Stature and advanc'd it into Super-corrigas which yet perhaps arrives not the full Altitude of the Greek For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a Decompound and if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be to make strait or right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is throughly to do it and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to do it not only exactly but over and over again S. Chrysostom and S. Ierom both take notice of this Emphasis and state it thus That whereas S. Paul had corrected some Things and so far Titus should go on where he left and compleat what he had begun bringing them yet to another Test till they came forth like Gold more than once tryed in the Furnace An Hint which will perhaps be too greedily catch'd at by those to whose Advantage it was never intended A sort of Men that are all for Super-corrigas but 't is still on the wrong side and of that which is not amiss The Reformers of the World and Syndios of all Christendom Men but of yesterday yet wiser and better than all the Fathers that Over-correct and Over-reform every thing correct Magnificat it self before they be out of danger of the rest of the Proverb Correct not the Cretans and their Amisses but Titus and his Elders serving all Antiquity and Patterns of Primitive Government as Procrustes did his Guests who still reduced them to the Scantling of his Beds So these either cutting them short or forcing them out longer till they apply to the just Model they have fancied to themselves and would impose upon others Thus Titus must be screwed up into an Extraordinary and so a Temporary Officer an Evangelist or a Secondary Apostle as Walo Messalinus and others not a fix'd and Ordinary Governour of the Church of Creet lest that come cross to their Designs and on the other side the Elders of the Text must be degraded into common Presbyters lest we should have Bishops here of S. Paul's Titus's own Creation with how little reason in either we go on to consider in 11. The second Act to which this Power is here designed and that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Ordain Elders in every City Concerning which Elders whether of the first or second Rank I know well what variety of Opinion hath past even amongst my own Mother's Sons Nor shall I be nice to acknowledge it as counting it our Advantage that we have more than a single Hypothesis to salve the Phoenemena and some choice of Answers each of them sufficiently securing us from the Contradiction of the Gainsayers to whose Pretensions these Elders will be for ever useless whether understood Bishops or common Presbyters always ordained and governed either by the Apostles themselves or by Bishops of their appointment as they drew off But not to leave it wholly in the Clouds I will not doubt to profess mine own sense too with due Submission That the Elders in the Text were very Bishops appointed One for every City and the Suburbicarian Region thereof For this is most agreeable not only the Exposition of the Antient Church the best Comment when all is done upon doubtful places of Scripture But to the Context also which expresly calls them Bishops in the seventh Verse Were it not for this and what follows in the next Particular we were perhaps at liberty to leave the World at large in its general acception as it takes in both Orders both useful in every City and so both to be supplied by Titus in which Oecumenius hath gone before us affirming that Titus was left in Creet to ordain Clerks in every City But we are determined For though at present I demand not that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherever it occurs in the New Testament should signifie a Bishop yet that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth so I shall not doubt to affirm till I see the Text produced that attributes it to some Person otherwise evinced to have been no more then a single Presbyter And Thirdly and Lastly most agreeable also to the Text
thy Wings will I make my Refuge until these Calamities be over-past WHat St. Hierom observ'd long since concerning this Book of Psalms Titulos esse Claves that the Title is usually the true Key of David to set open the Psalm to us and to let us into the true Understanding of it he learn'd probably from a former Author with whose Writings he was in his younger years much delighted Origen I mean Who in his Tomes upon the Psalms discoursing of some Obscurities in Holy Scripture and the proper Remedies thereof gives us yet a more ancient Tradition which he receiv'd as he saith from a learned Jew That the whole Body of Scripture is like a great House in which are several Appartments and therein many Rooms shut up and in them again many Cabinets and Boxes lockt down Nor hangs the proper Key at every Door but they lie scatter'd here and there and counter-chang'd so that it requires some pains and skill to find them out and apply them aright Thus the Key of the Prophetic Scripture lies in the Historical where we often find both the Occasion of the Prophesie and the Event too and that proves usually the best Interpreter Thus the Acts of the Apostles which contain the Peregrinations and Gests of St. Paul are a great Master-Key to open his Epistles and to unlock to us many things hard otherwise to be understood in them And thus in the present Instance David's History is the proper Key to David's Psalter and so the Books of Samuel the Kings and Chronicles the best and most authentic Commentary upon the Psalms For this now before us lest we should mistake the Spirit of God hath hung the Key at the Door or at least pointed us whence to fetch it And while the Title dates it from the Cave we are plainly directed to 1 Sam. xxiv There we find the holy Man in a great streit of Affliction wandring like an Exile or Bandito in the Wilderness of Engedi the few Men he had straggling and shifting for themselves upon the Rocks of the wild Goats implacable Saul in the mean time with five times his Number so closely pursuing him that he is forc'd to take shelter in the Cave And there being shut up from the Sight of Heaven and Light of the Sun and as it were buried alive in that obscure Dungeon surrounded with Danger on every side and little Hope left him of escaping with his Life 't is then that he sighs out his Al-taschith as this and the two following Psalms are entitled Oh destroy me not utterly so the Word signifies but let me live to praise thy Name 't is then that by a vigorous Faith he flies to the tender Mercies of God as to his only City of Refuge And reposing himself in the Bosom of the Divine Goodness by Acts of Faith and Devotion and of Perseverance in both he doth exactly and precisely that which We all are enjoyn'd to do this Day He implores the Mercies of God in the Protection of himself and in him of those that belong to him Be merciful unto me O God saith he be merciful unto me for my Soul trusteth in thee yea in the shadow of thy Wings will I make my Refuge until these Calamities be overpast So that the proper business of this Day being visibly stampt in great Letters upon the Fore-head of the Day and that by the Hand of Sacred Authority it self and the Lines of the Text too running so parallel all along and so commensurate to those of the Day upon which Ground the whole Psalm was very pertinently selected as one of the proper Psalms for the Office of the Day I may hope in some Degree to discharge my Duty to both of them by treating of those two things What God's Protection is and What we are to do that we may be qualifi'd and prepar'd aright successfully to implore the Mercy of that Protection In Order whereunto I will consider the Text in a twofold Reference I. As it looks down from God to us-ward in gracious and powerful Protections And so it speaks our great Honour and Happiness the high and glorious Privilege of pious Kings and their Kingdoms that they are under the Shadow of God's Wings II. As it looks up in another Aspect from Us to God again and so it contains our necessary and indispensable Duty and calls aloud for our suitable Deportment which is resolvedly to put our selves under the Divine Protection or to seek and make our Refuge under the Shadow of his Wings I. I begin with the high and glorious Privilege of all holy Souls but especially of pious Kings and their Kingdoms They are under the shadow of God's Wings The expression frequently occurs in Scripture and may seem to speak these three things or some of them which together will give you I think the full extent of the shadow of God's Wings the adequate Importance of this illustrious Metaphor 1. Safeguard and Defence from Calamities that they come not Or 2. Speedy Help and Deliverance out of Calamities when they are come Or however 3. Comfort in the mean time and Refreshment in Calamities while they are upon us 1. The Privilege of Safety and Protection from Calamities stand first in our Method intimated here in a threefold Expression A Refuge a Shadow and the Shadow of Wings 1. And what is a Refuge which is the first but a place of Security either in regard of its Secrecy to hide us or its strength to defend us to which we flie when Calamity threatens us And such is God to his People a City of Refuge an inviolable Sanctuary an Altar of Mercy to which we may flie and be safe and from the Horns whereof no bold Calamity shall dare to pluck us without his special Commission Or in another Reference a place of Refuge is a Covert from Storm and Rain Es. IV. 6. and as it follows there in the same Verse 2. A Tabernacle for a Shadow too in the Day-time from the Heat which is the second Expression The Emphasis whereof is far better understood in those intemperate Climats where the Sun-Beams are scorching and the Heats insufferable Nothing there more desirable than a shady Grove or a deep Grot the Sun never looks into or the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Which Protections because the Pilgrim Israelites wanted in the Wilderness God supplyed it to them by spreading a Cloud over them for a Covering in the Day-time as the Psalmist speaks and God was in that Cloud so that for forty years together they marcht and encampt under his shady Wings I had almost said without a Metaphor And still whenever the Son of Persecution or other Calamity ariseth upon us with burning Heat God can exempt whom he thinks good and send them times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord so that while the World is all on fire about them they journey through that torrid Zone with their mighty Parasol